Russia women’s volleyball coach Sergio Busato has risked a further backlash after claiming his ‘slant eye’ gesture after the recent Olympic qualifier against South Korea was meant as a celebration at reaching Tokyo 2020.

Russia beat South Korea in Kaliningrad at the weekend to book their spot in next year’s Summer Olympics in Japan, but the victory has been overshadowed by complaints over Busato’s celebrations.

The Italian was seen making a ‘slant eye’ gesture on court, leading the Korea Volleyball Association to state it would lodge an official complaint with its Russian counterparts as well as the sport’s international governing body, the FIVB.